Signaling system



'i ferred to.

Patented Mar. 1.8, 1924.

UNITED srA'ras- CLARENCE E. BEACH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

SIG-NALING SYSTEM.

Application led October 9, 1919. Serial No. 329,603.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signaling systems comprising a plurality of signal initiating stations and signall manifesting st ations, and is particularly adapted for use in signaling systems having a plurality of code signal initiating stations and signal man1- festing stations, some of Which manifesting stations are responsive to all of the initiating stations, and other of Which manifesting stations areresponsive to only a certain one or more initiating stations. Such manifestf ing stations as are responsive to all initiating stations will be hereinafter referred to as general manifesting stations, and those so associate-d with certain initiating stationsthat their responsiveness to signals is controlled by such stations Will be hereinafter referred to as associated manifesting stations. p

It is Well known that, for signaling systems of certain types,-such as, for example, certain thermostatically controlled systems,

--normally open contacts can be more readily and dependa-bly controlled, than normally closed contacts, for the purpose of giving Warning of the development of abnormal .or

dangerous conditions. It is also Well recognized that effective electrical operating conditions may :be most dependably maintained in systems which are so arranged that, suitable warning Will be automatically given, in the event of the rupture of lany current path the continuity of Which is vital to the manifestation of signals responsive to the actuation of signal initiating circuit closing contacts, suchl as have been hereinbefore re- In view of the foregoing, systems have heretofore been devised in which normally separated contacts have been arranged to shunt out windings of a. norma-llyenergized electro-magnet, for the purpose of de-energizing such magnets and thereby causing the ,transmission of an intended signal.

' Such systems, when suited for the use of a plurality of code'signal initiating stations, have employed complicated mechanisms and circuit arrangements for the purpose of preventing activity of all of the signal transmitting stations in response to circuit breaks, such as those incidental to the transmission of a signal from any one initiating station; because such activity of all stations would impair or destroy the effectiveness of the transmission of anl intended signal. Such prior systems have usually employed numerous independent current sources at scattered locations; the disadvantages of which, as compared with a common or centralized current source for supplying all parts of the system, areWell understood by those skilled in this art.

Practical considerations frequently require the extensionl of a signa-ling circuit, of the character indicated, so as to cover an extensive territory and to include many signal initiating stations. The resistance of the line conductors of such systems is necessarily comparatively high, such conductors are frequently of very limited current carrying f capacity, and limitations are very generally enforced as to the maximum electromotive force Which shall be applied to such signaling systems; all of Which limitations are especially salient when underground cable conductors are made part of such systems.

F or these reasons, the energy is very limited i which may be transmitted from a common current source for the excitation of the tripping magnets of aplurality of initiating stations thus making the effectiveness of the utilization of such energy an important aim.

When such systems are provided with initiating stations having normally energized shuntlable tripping magnets, reliability of .service demands that a retractile force shall be provided which exceeds, by a suitable. factor of safety, that which Will barely overcome all residual magnetism, and trip the mechanism of such station even after such mechanism has stood unused for a long period. For like reasons, the pull of such tripping magnets should exceed such retractile force with a like factor of safety.

lt is thus evident that -the tripping niagnets of such systems must, in order to afford a like factor of safety, absorb more energy than Would be required in the case of a normally de-energized magnet, the pull of which need only to be sufficient to act, with but a single factor of safety, to trip the mechanism and tol overcome the retractile force which is barely sufficient to overcome any residual magnetism and to prevent unintended actuation of the mechanism. v

An object of this invention is to provide a system in which the transmission of signals may b e initiated by the closure of any of several pairs of normally open contacts, and in which a fully effective electrical test will be normally maintained `through all current paths, (including magnet windings) which are essential to the initiation and transmission of a signal from any initiating station to the general manifesting mechanism of such systems, except from one to the other of contacts of said pairs through the current paths which are only closed when such contacts have been actuated in a manner intended to cause the transmission of a signal.

Another object is to provide such a system in which the resistance of the effective current path will not be increased, and will not be objectionably decreased, by any adjustment or revision of said path such as is intended to cause the operation of a transmitting stationv therein, to the end that the operation of manifesting mechanism included in such current path, such as, for example, vibrating shunt bells, Will not be noticeably affected by any such adjustment or revision.

A further object is to provide, in such a system, facilities for suitably controlling a desired number of normally unresponsive manifesting stations, individually or in groups, by means of suitable clock-work trains at initiating stations associated with such manifesting stations, so that, when a signal has been transmitted a desired one or more times by any one of such trains, a predetermined manifesting station or group of such stations will be rendered responsive to the current flow in the signaling circuit, so that the manifesting station or stations thus rendered responsive to the signaling circuit be given by an asssociated manifesting station whenever, and so long as, the'train of any manifesting station is unwound to an eX- tent which may prevent the transmission of its intended code signal.

A further object is to provide construction and arrangement of such controlling facilities whereby the loss of a signal cannot remaaier,

upon the closure of normally open contacts,I 4for reasons well understood by those skilled in this art. Y

A further object is to provide such a system in which a suitable number of initiating and manifesting stations may be supplied by a single series circuit, together with means for increasing the electromotive force of the current source of such circuit during the transmission of signals and thereafter until the line current flow has been restored to notl less than a predetermined value, to the end that ample electromotive force will be available for overcoming the resistance of such associated manifesting stations vas may bc operatively included in such circuit during the transmission of signals therein.

Other objects are to simplify such systems, to render them more durable and more reliable in operation, to decrease their cost of installation, and to decrease the cost of manufacture of instruments employed therein.

Still other objects together with their inherent advantages will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter specifically set forth.

ln constructing the various features of this invention, a normally closed signaling circuit is employed, and desired signal initiating and manifesting stations are connected in said circuit, together with a suitable current source; each of said initiating stations having a normally wound trainv equipped With means including make and break contacts for transmitting distinctive code signals one or more times, together with an electro-magnet for tripping said train; and means being associated with each initiating station for controlling the effective energiaation of such magnets.

The controlling means associated with each transmitting station comprises one or more pairs of normally open contacts, the

contacts of each pair being arranged for desired manual orautomatic operation, to be closed when it is desired to energize the tripping magnet of the initiating station associated therewith.

"llo the end that a fully effective electrical test may be maintained throughout all essential current paths (as hereinbefore more explicitly defined), the code signaling contacts, the windings of the tripping magnets of the various initiating stations and each of `the contact members of the controlling means associated therewith are serially in cluded 1n the normal current path of said llO utilized for releasing or tripping the mech.

anism associated therewith-(such magnets are provided withy differential windings, which are so proportioned and connected that, when the normal line current is passing through both, the resulting magnetic fields substantially neutralize each other; 'so that such magnets are not energized when the line current is flowing through both windings thereof.

For the purpose of renderingr the saidl magnets responsive to the associated control ling means contacts,each pair of-said contacts are connected at one side and the other, respectively, of the leads to one of the differential windings of the magnet of the associated initiating station, so that, when said contacts are closed, one of the windings of such magnets will be short-circuited, thus enabling effective energization of su'ch magnet to be accomplished by current flow through the other of said windings.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the resistance of the effective current path is not increased by such a closure of con trolling contacts, but is somewhat decreased, so as to increase the current iiow through the winding which is not shunted, and thus more effectively energize the tripping magnet; While not decreasing the resistance of the effective current path (and hence not in# creasing the current How) to an extent which would noticeably affect the operation of any manifesting mechanism (such as, for example, vibrating shunt bells) which are connected in said current path upon the occasion of such a contact closure.

Incases when it is deemed to be desirable to provide' a local manifestation to assist those who respond to signals in proceedingv directly to the nlocality of the origination thereof, and for the further purpose of giving a continuous warning .whenever the train of any initiating station has run down to more than a predetermined extent, manifesting stations" are associated with signal initiating stations and so, controlled thereby as to become active after predetermined response of such initiating stations to the controlling means associated therewith.

In order to render such manifesting stations operable by the current source of the signaling circuit,-such stations are serially included-in said circuit, and are of such construction and arrangement as to be suitably operable by the normal current flow in said circuit, and so that, in operating, they `will not objectionably` affect the continuity of such current flow. Continuous ringing or vibrating bells of the so called shunt type are suited for this use; suchbells being provided with windings connected to the signaling circuit, together with contacts, operable by a vibrating member thereof, for alternately breaking and closing shunt paths around said windingslin av well-known manner.

For the purpose of preventing unintended activity of such associated manifesting stations, a current path ofinominal resistancea is provided in parallel with the current path of each` associated manifesting station, each of such current'paths'serially including normally closed shunting contacts controllable by an associated initiating station, so that said contacts will be separated by and dur-a ing the running of the trains of such station, as, for example, being operable by parts movable with the wind shafts of such trains so that, when the train of any station is in its normal fully wound condition, the shunting contacts associated therewith will be closed, and when such a train is unwound more than to a predetermined extent, such a contacts will be opened.

Inasmuch as the current path through the l windings of each associated manifesting station is normally shunted by a parallel cur` rent path of low resistance, as just pointed out, it is evident that, while such `parallel path is closed, no warning will be given, by the general manifesting mechanism included in the signaling circuit, of any break in such shunted path; and that should any such pathr be broken, while so shunted, upon nseparation of the. contacts included in the shunting path, by the running of the train which controls such contacts, the signaling circuit will be interrupted and thus rendered incapable of responding to further code signals, pending the rewinding of thetrain whose action broke such shunting circuit.

For the purpose of assuring the transmission of the code signal of any train which isset in motion, irrespective of the con' tinuityv ofthe normally shunted current.

path of the manifesting station associated therewith, the means for actuating the shunting contactsare so constructed and arranged as to act to break said contacts only after such trains'have been run down, from fully wound 4posit/:ion a distance sufficient to cause the transmission `of the intended code signal a predetermined one or more times.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the continuity of the signaling circuit is not, at any time, dependent-upon the cloassociated therewith, the transmission of, the intended code signal will not be preventl ed or interrupted because of any previously existing circuit defect, or because of ineecfY n 1s firmly secured. A stop screw 27 1s mounted in the path of the arm 26, for suitably limitingthe rotation of said arm with the shaft tive closure of anycurrent ath,'which was I0 not subject to previous contlnuous electrical test.v l

ln systems employing local initiating stations of such individual resistance and under such operating conditions that, under any;

anticipated circumstances, the resistance'f the current path of the signaling -circuit is likely to become so great that the Anormal electromotive force of the signaling-circuit current-source would` be -insucient to assure desired response of the signaling.;

l inechanism connected therein-means is provided forI suitably increasing the potential of said current source,'whenever and so 101g as such increase may be needed.

ch means comprises automatically .ac' tuated switching mechanism controlled by,

`the current flow in the signaling circuit so that, upon a decrease 1n sald current flow below such a predetermined value as isV deemed to afford a minimum factor of safety, said means will act to cause a suitl able increase in the electromotive force of the current source, and will thereafter main tain such increase until said current How Vhas become as great as that which would result from the application of such increased potential to the resistance of the normal signaling circuit current path.

For the purpose of enabling this invention l to be more readily understood, an embodi- Ament thereof is shown in the annexed drawing and hereinafter described, but this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment therein shown and hereinafter described, as various features may be employed singly, or in groups which do not comprise all of the features herein described and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and many changes may be made in construction and arrangement and parts maybe added or omitted, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters denote similar parts: the signaling system shown comprisesIv a normally closed signalingr circuit includin signal initiating stations A, B, C and D; associated manifesting stations E, lll, G- and G a general manifesting station comprising mechanism H and I; and a current supply J, with which the mechanism K, L, M, N, 0 and P is associated.l

Each of said initiating stations comprises f means for transmitting a. code signal one or more Itiicues,v which means includes make and break contacts 21 and 22, and .a suitable code-wheel 23 carried by shaft 24 of a suitable ',tfrainvof clock-work for operating said code-wheel; these parts being omitted, in

yth ,interests of clearness, in the representa- 'tionj'of station D. Each of said trains comrises a wind shaft 25 to which a stop arm 26 25. AAin..1elek-,tro-magnet, having the windirfggssa28, diagrammatically illustrated in confuection with stations A, B and C, is pro- `'purposes of this invention, best results are most readily obtained by applying the ltwo diderential windings in interposed relation, as diagramatically indicated by the drawing, instead of applying separate coils, as has been more frequently done in the past.

Features of the construction and arrangement of the clock-work trains which are not specifically shown in the drawing, form no art of this invention, and can be Supplied 1n anyv of various well-known forms, the relative suitability of which will be readily perceived by those skilled in this art. Further illustration of such features is omitted in the interests of simplicity and clearness.

Means are provided at initiating stations Dfor controlling associated manifesting stations. Such means comprises the contacts 29 and'30, and the cam 31 which is secured to and rotates with the wind shaft 25. Each vof said cams is so formed as to act upon the contact 29 associated therewith to establish a connection, between said contact and the contact 30 co-operating therewith while the shaft 25 is in fully wound position and. during initial movement from said fully wound position to the position occupied by said shaft after the transmission of the intended code signal a predetermined one or more times.

Each of said cams is further so formed that, throughout all unwinding movement thereof after the aforesaid initial movement, the co-acting contact 29 will be permitted to move away from the contact 30 associated therewith.

'lihe connection between the winding shaft terminals 35 and 36 being'connected through conductors 40 and 4l to contacts '29 and 30 respectively.

The conductor 42 of oeach station connects contact 21 with the remaining-end of the differential/winding 28 and conductor 43 connects contacts 22 and 29.

:For convenience of lrepresentation, the manifesting stations E, F and G are shown in the accompanying drawing as vibrating bells; and the sub-station G is indicated by the symbol for an incandescent lamp. The detailed construction of such bells and lamp form no part of this invention, and it is obvious that other forms of manifesting mechanism may, if desired, Lvbe readily employed in lieu of. such bells and lamp. In any event, such manifestin devices should be of a type the operation o which will not cause.

interruptions or serious fluctuations in the current flow therethrough; such manifesting mechanisms as incandescent lamps, or vibrating bells or horns of other than the` interrupter type, being suitable for such use, while' ordinary vibrating bells and buzzers, and other mechanism of the interrupter type, are unsuited for such use.

One terminal of the bell E is connected to a terminal of bell F through the conductor 44. `The remaining terminals of said bells being connected through the conductors 45 and 46 t0 the terminals of 35 of initiating stations A and B respectively; and the terminals 36 of said stations are connected through the conductor 47, which seriall includes the contacts 29 and 30 of station The terminals of the bell Gr are connected through the conductors 48 and 49 and lamp Gr to terminals 35 and 36 of initiating station C.

The foregoing connections between initiating and associated manifesting stations serve, in a manner winch will be hereinafter more fully explained, to render both bells E and F responsive to breaks between the shunting contacts 29 and l30 of any one of the stations A, B or D; while bell G and lamp G are alone responsive to breaks between the shunting contacts of\station C.

It is evident that many adaptations of the arrangements shown may be made to suity various conditions, as for example, by connecting additional bells, lamps or other snitable manifesting mechanism in series with a conductor 48, so that several varieties o-f manifestation (such as both visible and audible) or manifestations at a plurality of locations'may be made responsiyeto a single initiating station; or by similarly 1noreasing or by decreasing the number, or

nism connected in series with a conductor f 44 for similar response to a grou of initiatmg stations such as the stations B and D; or by omitting-the station D or by connectlng the shunting contacts 29 and 30 of additional initiatingA stations (such as the station D) in series with a conductor 4 7 between a pair of initiating stations such as A and B, so that such additional station or stations may similarly control the continuity of the current path through such conductor and thereby render the associated manifesting mechanism responsive to breaks between the shunting contacts 29 and 30 of any one of a group of initiating stations comprising more than two of such stations.

Mechanisms comprising contacts 50 and 51 arranged in co-operating pairs, are shown 1n associated relation with each of the initiating stations for short circuiting one of the differential windings thereof. Such mechanisms may comprise any' desired manually or automatically operable means for closing a pair of normally open contacts, but, for the purposes of this invention, it islmerely requisite that such mechanisms shall comprise two normally disengaged conductors operable to be brought into conductive relation with one another.

Each co-operating pair of the contacts 50 and 51 are. conventionally represented as comprising a thermostatically controlled circuit closing device, the contact 50 of which is normally insulated from the contact 51; such construction being provided as to cause said contacts to be moved into con-l ductive relation one with the other, when such device is iniiuenced by certain predetermined temperature conditions; and each of said contacts consisting of a unitary conducting structure having two points of connection forline conductors; so that the current path between any such two points will traverse such structure.

The devices comprising the pairs of cony tacts 50 and 51 ma be located at various points, as desired; t e conducting structure of each of said devices being respectively connected in the normal current paths of the signaling circuit which lead to the ends of one of the differential windings 28 of the initiating station which should be responsive thereto; to the end-that the closure of any pair of said contacts will short-circult such'windng, and for the further purpose of making the normal continuity of the signaling circuit dependent upon the maintenance of such connection of said contacts in saidc circuit as will assure their eifectiveness for short-circuiting such winding.

A recording device H and a sounding device I are shown` serially connected in the signaling circuit, as: conventional 'representations of a general manifesting 'statlon mechanism, such as mi ht be provided for at a central oce, or sewhere as desired, Said recording device. being arranged to actv u on each interruption of the signaling circult, to suitably mark its paper tape and to condition the feeding or propelling mechanism for such tape for predetermined operation thereof, and the sounding device I being arranged to sound upon each such interruption. lt is evident that other general manifesting stations may be similarly connected.

The current supply J is arranged to furnish the needful energy for maintaining a suitable current iow through the normal current path of the signaling circuit.

Said current supply should comprise means (such as, for example, a suitable number of secondary battery cells) having such characteristics that, when a source of energy of higher electromotive force is connected in parallel therewith, such curlent supply will develop a counter electromotive force, suitably exceeding the normal discharge electromotive force of said supply, without ermitting an undesirablf1 great current ow in reverse direction t rough said supply.

The generator terminals of the motorgenerator K are connected through conductor l62, under-voltage-release relay N, conductors 63, 60, 53 and 64, (including resistances 0 and P) in parallel with the ter-v minals of current source J, the controlling magnet of said relay N being permanently connected to the terminals of said generator through conductors 62 and 65.

In cases when the counter electromotive force of the source J would be insufficient, in the absence of an objectionably great reverse current iiow therethrough, to maintain a suitable current How in the signaling circuit under any condition for which it is deemed prudent to make provision,-a suitable resistance@ will serve to permit the application of a suitably increased potential to the signaling circuit between the junctions therewith ofthe conductors 63 and 64C, without causing an objectionable reverse current flow. lin cases when such counter electromotive force is deemed to be sulicient for all purposes, the resistance 0 may be omitted.

The relay N is or the self-.closing type,

being arranged to so govern a connection between the conductors 62 and 6.3 as to close such connection while the potential generated by the motor-generator K exceeds, in not less than a predetermined degree, what is assumed to be the maximum discharge potential of the source J; and to thereafter open such connection when said generated potential falls to or below said discharge potential.

rllhe resistance P serves to limit the energy applied by the motor-generator K to the manica source J andto the signaling circuit; thereby facilitating the utilization of a motor generator arranged to develop an electromotive force substantially greater than that requiredfor either 'suitably charginglsuch source or providingl for .normal operation of such circuit, and supplementing the resistance 0 in limiting the electromotive force which will be effective at the winding of the relay N during any normal discharging condition of the source J, as compared to the minimum electromotive force or the motor-generator Kv-which-will eiect charging of such source. `When the resistance (D) is comparatively smallor is omitted (as in a case when the associated vmanifesting stations, like E, P and Grifor the inclusion or which in the signaling circuit extra potential should be available, 'have little resistance in comparison to that of the entire normal current path of said circuit) the resistance P should be comparatively great, so as to assure a desirable range of operative adjustments for the relay N. `When the resistance O is comparatively great,-the resistance P may be correspondingly decreased and, in extreme cases, omitted.

The resistance P further vserves to limit the abnormality of charging current flow in the event that the motor-generator is started after having failed to act for a period sucient to permit discharge of the source J to a point at which the counter-electromotive force of such source would be exceptionally low.

A. relay M is serially included in the signaling circuit, said relay being arranged to act through the automatic switch L to control the supply circuit comprising the conductors 7l, 72 and 73, through which suitable energy may be conducted to the motorgenerator K.

rllhe automatic switch L is interposed between the relay M and supply circuit conductors 7l and 72, for the purpose of enabling said relay tobe so constructed as to absorb a comparatively small amount of energy from the signaling circuit, and so as to be adjustable to act in response to comparatively small changes in the current strength of said signaling circuit; while providing contacts of substantial proportions for controlling said supply circuit.

lf the current of the sup-ply conductors 71, 72 and 73 is suitable for connection directly to the signaling circuit, the motorenerator K may be omitted, the conductors 72 and 73 being, in such case, directly connected to conductors 65 and 62 respectively.

The operation of the system shown in the accompanying drawing is as follows:

Under normal conditions, the trains or all the initiating stations will be' fully wound, the shunting contacts 29 and .30 ot such stations being held closed' by their eomau llO

operating cams 31, as indicated at stations B, C and D. The contacts 50 and 51 of the various circuit closing devices stand open, the contacts and 21 of each of the initiating stations are held closed by the respective co-acting code-wheels 23, the current suppl J causes a current How through the signa ing circuit of suic'ient strength to eectively energize the controlling magnets of the various initiating andmanifestlng stations and to hold the armature of relay M in attracted position. lnasmuch as the normal current path -includes both of the differential windings 28 of the tripping magnets of each of the initiating stations, none of said magnets will beA energized, and the mechanism controlled thereby will be at rest. J

The normal signaling circuit current path is as follows From supply J, through conductors 53 and 54, recording device H, conductor 55, relay M, conductor 56, sounding device conductor 57 (and the serially included contacts 51 of the circuit closing devices of station B), to terminal 34 of station B; thence through conductor 39, one cfr-the diierential windings 28 and conductor 38 to terminal 33 of said station, thence through conductor 52 (and the serially included contacts 50) to terminal 32 .of such station; thence through conductor 37 the other di'erential winding 28, conductor 42, make and break contacts 21 and 22, and conductor 43 to shunting contact 29 of said station B. Two normal current paths are normally provided between the shunting contacts 29 of stationsD B and A; one of said paths comprising the conductor 40, terminal 35, conductor 46, bell F, conducor 44, bell E, conductor 45, terminal 35, of station A and conductor 40; the other of said paths comprises the shunting contact 30, conductor 41, and terminal 36 of station B, conductor 47 (and the vserially included contacts 29 and 30 of station D) and the terminal 36, conductor 41, and shunting contact 30 of station A. As the resistance 0f the current path through shunting contacts 30, conductors 41, terminals 36 and conductor 47 is negligible in comparison with the resistance of the current path in parallel therewith which includes the bells E and F, it is evident that substantially all of the line current will pass through such low resistance path, and that the current flow through said bells will be insufficient to cause the actuation thereof.

From the shunting contact 29 of the staltion A, the signaling circuit current path proceeds through conductor 43, make and break contacts 22 and 21, conductor 42, one ot the differential windings 28, conductor 37, terminal 32, conductorl 52 (and serially included contacts 50), terminal 33, conductor 38, the other differential winding 28,

conductor 39, to terminal 34 of said station; thence through conductor 58 (and serially included contacts 51) to one terminal of bell G. v

From the terminal of the bell G to which conductor 58 is connected, two parallel current paths are normali provided to shunting contact 29 of station C. One of said paths comprises the conductor 49, terminal 36, conductor 41 and shunting contact 30 of station C; the other of said paths in` cludes the bell G, conductor 48 (and the serially included lamp Gf), terminal 35, and conductor 40 of said station. From the foregoing it will be seen that the bell G and lampvG, like bells E and F, are normally short circuited.

From shunting contact 29 of station C, the signaling Vircuit current path returns to' the other terminal of supply J through terminal 34,l conductor 59 (and serially in- 'eluded contacts 51), resistance O and conductor 60.

The armature of relay M being in energized position, the supply circuit for the motor-generator K is broken at the auto. matic switch L, and said motorenerator is at rest. The motor-generator l rest, relay N stands open-as' shown, thus preventing discharge of the supply J either hrogh the motor-generator i or the re-` Assuming that a pair of the contacts 50 being at and 51 of station G are now closed, it is evident that the differential winding 28 connected between terminals 33 and 34 of said station will thereby be short circuited,'thus rendering the winding connected between terminal 32v and contact 31 effective, so 'as to e cause the train to be released and thereby rotate the code-wheel 23 thereof. -As said code-wheel revolves, suitable breaks and closures of the 4signaling circuit will be caused by the actuation of the contacts 21 and 22,' and the intended code signal will be manitested by the recording device H and sounding device I in a well-known-manne-r.

It will be noted that short circuiting one of the windings 28, as just described, will vresult in an appreciablev reductionA ink thev resistance of the current pathoi` the signaling circuit, and the current flow through the effective winding of the tripping magnet will therefore be somewhat greater vthan the normal current How in the signaling circuit. The benefit of such an increase in tacts 21 and 22, just referred to, relay M will act to cause automatic switch L to close the supply circuit for motor-generator K. Said motor-generator will thereupon start rent to the storage battery cells ofsupply J through the following current path zfrom one terminal of motor-generator K,

` .through conductor 62, relay N, conductor 63 to junction of said conductorwith conductor 59; thence through'conductor 59, resistance O, conductor 60, secondary v J, conductor 53 and conductor 64: (and indeemed prudent to provide cluded resistance P) to the of motor-generator K.

Upon such application of charging curother terminal rent to the cells of source J, a counter elec` tromotive force will be built up in said cells and the fall of potential between the terminals of resistance O will serve to increase the potential applied to the signaling circuit (instead of decreasing such potential,`

as is the case while the current How in said circuit is applied by the source J). From; the foregoing it will be apparent that, while the motor-generator K is thus acting, the current flow in the signaling circuit will be supphed by said motor-generator at a potential which will be substantially in excess of the normal Gdischarge potential of the supply J 1t is also evident that if there is a proper relation between the potential generated by the motorenerator K, the re- 'slstances O and P, an the counter electromotive force developed by the supply J in consequence of the resulting charging current; sucient potential may be supplied to the signaling circuit to insure the maintenance of a current flow at least as great as that normally supplied in said circuit, even 1f the resistance of one, two, or such greater7 number of manifesting stations as it is for, shall be added to the resistance of the normal current path of such' circuit.

After the signal of the code-Wheel 23, has been transmitted a predetermined one or more times, as just described, vthe face of the cam 31, will be withdrawn from the path of shunting contact 29, and said contact will thereupon m'ove away from contact 39, interrupting the short circuit around the bell G and lamp G.- After A such interruption of such shunt, all current ow of the signaling circuit will pass through said bell G time as the wind shaft 25 of station C is so turned as to cause the earnv 31 to move contact 29 into conductive relation with contact 30.

As a result of such interruption of the s ort circuit around bell G and lamp G', said bell and lamp will thereafter ring and light, respectively continuously (except during intervals, oif any, during which the make andbreak contacts 21 and 22 of any initiatcells of supply bell G and lamp G"Will any point, the current flowvthrough and lamp G until such' incarna ing station may interrupt-the signaling circuit incident to the transmission of a slgnal therefrom) until the train is rewound.

Although interruption of the short eii'-, cuit around the bell G and lamp G will add the resistance of said bell and lamp to the resistance of the normal current path of the signaling circuit, such added resistance will be overcome by the increased potential supplied to the signaling circuit by the motor-generator K, and the current flow during such ell'ective energization of the therefore be maintained at a strength at least as great as that normally provided in the signaling circuit. lf', at the time that .the short circuit around the bell G and lamp G is interrupted, as just described, the current path through the bell G, lamp G', conductor 48, terminal Y35 or, conductor 40 is broken at naling circuit will be thereby interrupted,

and no further code signals can thereafter be transmitted over the signaling circuit until this train has been rewound or the interruption in said current path has been repaired. Although the current path a break in which may thus disable the signaling circuit is not under electrical test when lthe system is at rest, (and such an interruption will therefore not be manifested until the short circuitnaround this current path has been interrupted), the4 development of such an interruption will not prevent the transmission of the intended code signal to the mechanism H and l of the general manifesting station, inasmuch as such code signal will have been transmitted one or more times (depending upon the arrangement of the train which has been provided) before said short circuit is interrupted.

Initiating stations A, B and D may be correspondingly set in motion, as by closing any pair of contacts, such as 50 and 51 associated with either of said stations respectively; and the running of the train of any of these stations will, upon the separation of the shunting contacts 29 and 30 thereat, render bells E and F edective.

. So long as one or more of the bells E, 1F and G are active, the energization of relay M willbe insuiicient to cause the automatic switch L to act to disconnect the motor-generator K from the power circuit; but when 'all7 of the trains are rewound, thereb short circuiting the bells E, F and G an lamp G",--thel resistancel of the current path of the signaling circuit will be restored to normal, and the extra pfotential su plied to said circuit by the motor-generatorIK will thereupon cause such degree of energization oit' the relay M as will result in the actuation of they automatic switch lL to break the supthe sig- Vcurrent path between said motor-generator and the signaling circuit, whereupon all parts of the system will again be in normal condition.

Should any one of the contacts 50 or 51 become disconnected from the signaling circuit, said circuit will be interrupted, and such interruptionwill be manifested by the -mechanism H and lI of the general manifesting station, and will be further mani fested by the continuous operation of the motor-generator-K. It is therefore apparent that maintenance vof operable relation, between the circuit closing devices comprising the various contacts 50 and 51 and the respective initiating stations which should be responsive thereto, may be relied upon during absence of activity of the general manifesting mechanism I-I' and I; and that, during such inactivity, the silence of the as: sociated manifesting devices similarly indicates that the initiating stations associated therewith are sutliciently wound to assure the transmission therefrom of the intended code signal in the event of the closure of l cells when any pair of theo contacts 50 and 5l to which such station should be responsive.

Should the short circuit current path varound any associated manifesting station .be accidentally interrupted, warning of such interruption will be given by the associated manifesting station.

If the current supply J consists of secondary battery cells, the relay M may be utilized for automatically maintainlng such cells in suliciently' charged condition, as thisrelay may be adjusted so that, if the discharge potential of such cells falls below a predetermined value, said relay will act to start the motor-generator K; and -so that,

'whenever said relay has, for `any reason,

acted to 'cause the motor-generator K to start, said relay will not, thereafter, act to cause said motor-generator to be stopped un# til .the current iiow in the signaling circuit is such as would result from the application of the charging current to the secondary saidcells are Iin fully charged condition. v

Having fully described this invention,

' what vI claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the 'United Sta-tes is 1. Ina signaling system: a signaling circuit comprising a, source of energy; a'plurality of signal initiatin stations each 'comprising means, inclu ing make and break-contacts, for ltransmitting a code sig- .nal one or more times, a differentially wound i magnet connected 1n said circuit for controllingsaidc means,and shunting contacts operable by said means after a code signal has been .transmitted a predetermined one' mally unresponsive to said circuit, the ref lationship of said other manifesting stations to said transmitting station shunting contacts being such that the operation of the shunting contacts of any transmitting station will render .a predetermined one or more of said other manifesting stations responsive to said circuit.

` 2. In a signaling system: a signaling circuit includin initiating stations and associated mani esting stations; signal transmitting mechanism at each initiating station comprising means for producing groups of breaks and closures of said circult in accordance with a predetermined code and means whereby the resistance of said circuit effective during such closures is increased substantially above normal after a predetermined one oor more of said groups have been transmitted; current supply mechanism connected to said circuit and normally applying thereto a potential suiiicient to maintain a current flowadequate to cause intended response of lmanifesting stations to closures thereof when the resistance of said circuit has not been increased by the action of any of said transmitting mechanisms; and means, responsive to breaks of said circuit, for increasing the potential of said current supply mechanism throughout the ensuing groups of breaks and closures so as to cause said suitable current ,flow during closures of such groups when theresistance of.said circuit has been so increased.

3. In a si alin system: a signaling circuit includmg initiating stations and as sociated manifesting station; signal transmitting mechanism atl each initiating station comprising means for producing groups of breaks and 'closuresof said cir icient to maintain acurrent flow adequate to cause intended response of manifesting Nstations -to closurds thereof, whenv the rev sistance of said circuit has not been increased by the actionl of any of said transmitting mechanisms, and means responsive to .breaks of said circuit for increaslng the potential-of said current supply mechanism throughout the Yensuing groups of breaks y of any transmitter.

and closures so as to cause said suitable current flowl during closures of such groups when the reslstance of said c1rcu1t has been increased as hereinbefore described, .said

means being adjusted to maintain such increased potential While the resistance of said circuit is so increased.

4. ln a signa-ling system: a signaling circuit including initiating stations and associated manifesting stations of substantial resistance; signa-l transmitting mechanism at each initiatin station comprising means for operative y excluding an associated manifesting station from said circuit and for operatively including such manifesting station in said circuit Whenever said mechanism has completed a predetermined cycle of action, whereby said circuit is subjected to substantial increase in resistance during the action of such transmitting mechanism; a current source included in said circuit and having sufficient normalv potential to maintain a line 'current flow adequate to cause intended response of manifesting stations toysignaling closures through the resistance of the normal current path of said circuit; and means for increasing the potential of said current source responsive to abnormal conditioning of said circuit incident to said predetermined cycle of action v5 l`n a signaling system; a normally closed signaling circuit; signal initiating stations each comprising a Windable train and signaling contacts operable by said trainv and included in said circuit; manifesting mechanisms for each of said stations, re-

gized,

controlled by the current flow in said cir# cuit for so increasing the potential of said current source as to be capable of maintalnmg such intended current flow in sald c1rcu1t While any of said loops are ener- 6. ln a signaling system; a normally closed signaling circuit; signal initiating stations each comprising a Windable train and signaling contacts operable by said train and included in'said circuit; manifesting mechanisms for said stations, re-

spectively, said manifesting mechanisms being operable by the intended line current mamar of said circuit and being included in normally de-energized loops; means controlled by each of said Windable trains, respectively, for including the associated manifesting mechanism loop in said circuit Whenever such train has becomeA unwound beyond a predeterminedextent and for deenergizing such loop at other times; a secondary battery included in said circuit and having sufficient normal potential to maintain the intended current flow therein when said associated loops are de-energized; a supply circuit for said battery; and governing mechanism for said supply circuit, said mechanism being so controlled by said signaling circuit as to apply suitable charging current to said battery whenever the current strength of said signaling circuit is decreased below a predetermined point and to thereafter maintain the application of such charging current until the current strength in said signaling circuit is increased above a predetermined point.

In a signaling system: a normally closed signaling circuit; signal initiating stations each comprising a Windable train and signaling contacts operable by said train and includedin said circuit; manifesting mechanisms for each -of said stations, respectively, said manifesting' mechanisms being operable by the intended line current of said circuit and being included in normally de-energized loops; means controlled by each of said Windable trains, respectively, for including the associated manifesting mechanism loops in said circuit whenever such train has become unwound beyond a predetermined ext'nt and for fle-energizing such loops at other times; a current source included in said circuit and of sufficient normal potential to maintain the intended current flow therein when said associated loops are Cle-energized; a relay controlled by said signaling circuit; and an independent supplyl circuit so controlled by said relay as to be applied vin parallel with said current source Whenever the current strength of said signaling circuit is decreased below a predetermined point, and to thereafter maintain such application until the current strength in said signaling circuit lis increased ab ve a predetermined point.

8. ln a signaling system: a normally closed signalingd circuit; signal initiating stations each comprising a Windable train and signaling Icontacts operable by said trainy and included in said circuit; manifesting mechanisms for each fof said stations, respectively, said manifesting mechanisms being operable by the intended line current of said circuit and being included in normally de-energized loopsfmeans controlled bysaid Windable trains, respectively, for includmg such an associated manifesting liti@ included in said circuit and of suliicient normal potential tomaintain the intended current flow therein when said associated loops are de-energized; a relay controlled by said signaling circuit, and an independent supply circuit so controlled by saidrelay as to be applied to said current source whenever the current 4strength of said signaling circuit is decreased below a predetermined point, and to thereafter maintain such application un-A til the current strength in said signaling circuit is increased above a predetermined point, said independent circuit being so a plied to said current source as to suitab y increase the potential applied to said signaling circuit.

9. In a signaling system: a normally closed signaling circuit; signal initiating ,stations each comprising a windable train and signaling contacts operable by said train and included in said circuit; manifesting lmechanisms for said stations, `respectively, said manifesting mechanisms being operable by the intended line current of said circuit and being-included in normally de-energized loops; means controlled by said windable trains, respectively, for including the associated manifesting mechanism loop in said circuit whenever such train has become unwoundv beyond a predetermined extent and for de-energizing 'such loop at other times; a secondary bat-r tery included in said circuit and having suficient normal potential to maintain the in,- tended currentflow therethrough when said associated loops are de-energized; a motorgenerator adapted to supply energy to said battery at such a rate as to suitably increase the potential available for the energization ofsaid signaling circuit; an automatic switch governing a connection between said motor-generator and said battery so that said connection .will be effective while the potential of said motor-generator is suIi- .cient to cause a suitable increase of the po- 50i t'ential a plied lto said signaling circuit; a supply circuit for said motor-generator; and governing mechanism` for s aidsupply circuit, said mechanism being so controlled by .Said signaling circuit as to apply suitable operating current to said motor-generator wheneverathe current strength of said signaling circuit is decreased below a redetermined point, and to.thereaft er maintain the application of such operating current until the current strength vin said signaling circuit is increased above af predetermined point.

' 10. Ina signaling system: a normally closed signaling circuit; signal initiating stations each comprising a windable train and signaling contacts operable by said train and included in said circuit; manifesting mechanisms .for said stations, respectively, said manifesting mechanism being operable by the intended line current of said circuit and being included in normally de-energized loops; meansr controlled by said windable trains, respectively, for including the associated manifesting mechanism loop in said circuit whenever such train has become unwound beyond a predetermined extent and for de-energizing such loop at other times; a secondary battery included in said Icircuit and' having lsuflicient normal potential to maintain the intended current flow therein when said associated loops are'de-energized; a resistance included in said circuit adjacent to said battery; a motor-generator adapted to supply energy to said battery through said resistance at such a rate as to suitably increase the potential available for the energization of said signaling circuit; connections whereby the energy of said motor-generator may be suitably applied to said battery through said resistance; an

automatic switch for rendering such connections effective while' the potential of said motor-generator is suflicient to maintain the intended current flow in said circuit through a predetermined number of said associated loops; a supply circuit for said motor-generator; and governing mechanism for saidsupply circuit, said mechanism being so con.- trolled by said signaling circuit as to cause ysuitable operating current to be supplied to said motor-generator whenever the current il, strength of said signaling circuit is decreased below a predetermined point, and to thereafter maintain the application of such operating current until the current strength of said signaling circuit is increased .above a predetermined point.

11. In a signaling systemz'a signaling circuit `comprising a source of energy; a

plurality of signal transmitters each comprising code transmitting contacts and a differentially wound controlling magnet, said contacts and the windings of said magnets being serially included in said circuit; one or mo're mechanisms associated with each of said transmitters, respectively, each -of such mechanisms comprising a pair of normally open contacts one of which is serially included in a portion of said circuit at one side of one of the windings of. some one of said differential magnets and which is, serially included'in a portion of said circuit at theother side of such winding; and signal Amanifesting means included in said circuit.

12. In a sign cuit comprising a source of energy; a' plu rality of signal transmitters each comprising code transmitting contacts ,anglI a differen-v tially wound controlling magnet, said contacts and the windings of said magnets being aling system; a signaling cir-` llO transmitting connected' in parallel with the shunting contacts of each .of said transmitters, respec.I

serially included in said circuit; mechanisms each comprising a pair of normally separated contacts closable by an associated one vof said transmitters, the contacts of each pair serially included in said circuit'at one side;y and the other, respectively, of one of the diferential windings of its associated transmitter, and signal manifesting means included in said circuit. o

13. in a signaling system: a plurality of signal transmitters each comprising code contacts, normally closed shunting contacts and a diierentially wound controlling magnet; a signaling circuit comprising a source of energy and serially including.,r said contacts and the `windings of said magnets together with means associated with each transmitter for establishing a short circuit aro-und one of the differential windings of the` controlling magnet thereof; signal manifesting means tively; and means moved by such transmitters, after predetermined operation thereof, to separate the shunting contacts associated therewith.

14. In a signaling system: a signaling circuit comprising a source of energy; a plurality of signal transmitters each comprising codetransmitting contacts and a differentially wound controlling magnet, said contacts and the windings of said magnets being serially included in saidV circuit; mechanisms each comprising a pair of normallyY separated contacts closableby an associated one of said transmitters, the contacts of each pair serially included in said circuit at one side and the other, respectively, of one of the differential windings of its associatedtransmitter; normally closed shunting contacts for each of one or more of said transmitters, said contacts being serially included in said signaling circuit; means moved by such transmitters, after predetermined 'operation thereof, to separate the shunting contacts associated therewith; and signal manifest-ing means connected in lparallel with said sliunting contacts.

15. In a signaling system: a signaling circuit comprising a source of energy; a plurality of signal transmitters each'comprising code transmitting contacts and a differentially wound controlling magnet, said contacts and the windings of said magnets being serially included in said circuit; mechanisms each comprising a pair of normally separated contacts closable by an associated one of said transmitters, the contacts of each pain-serially included'in .said circuit at one side' and the other, respectively, of one of the d-iferential windings .of its associatedtransmitter; normally closed shunting contacts 1,487, ica

for each of one or more of said transmitters, said contacts beifigerially included 1n said signaling circuit; means moved by such transmiters, after predetermined operationl 16. In a signal transmitter,-a normally wound train, differentially wound electromagnetic releasing means for said train, normally closed code signaling'contacts operable by said train to formulate a predetermined code one or more tiines,.normally closed shunting contacts so controllable by said train in running as to remain closed during initial action thereof to formulate such codeone or-more times,and to be thereafter held open during action of said train to formulate said code signal an additional one or more times, and suitable conductors serially connecting one of said magnet wind-l ings, the signaling contacts and the shunting contacts.

17. In a signal transmitter,-a normallyl wound train, electro-magnetic releasing means for said train comprising a dierentially wound magnet, a code-wheel revoluble by said train, normally. closed signaling contacts controlled bysaid code-wheel, normally` closed shunting contacts separable during the running of said train after one or more revolutions of the code-Wheel, five `bindin posts, two of which are directly connected to the respective ends of one of said magnet windings, the other of said windingsr and the code-wheel contacts bein serially connected between another of sai binding posts and one of the shunting contacts, the other twoD of said bindingposts being connected to said shunting contacts, respectively.

18. ln a signal transmitter',-a normally" wound train, differentially wound electro-d magnetic releasing means for said train, norvmally closed signaling contacts operable by said train to formulate a predetermined code one .or -more times, normally closed shunting contacts separable during the running of said train after, the code has been formulated one or more'times, live vbinding posts between two of which is connected one of lsaid magnet windings, between another two of which are connected the shunting contacts, and between the other one of which* posts and one of said shunt-ing contacts are serially connected the other one of the magnet windings and the signaling contacts.

lin witness whereof, ll hereunto lsubscribe my name, this? th day of cOctober, '1919.

c. n. pinnen.- 

